Match Pictures | Matches: 2024 – 2025
Trivia
- KO: 15:00, Saturday, BBC
- Scottish Cup Final
- Aberdeen earned a first Scottish Cup victory in 35 years after a penalty shootout to deny Celtic a treble.
- 1-1 after both 90mins & AET, Celtic lose 3-4 on penalties
- 1) First final where both teams have scored own-goals. 2) Celtic have lost 4 of their last 5 Scottish Cup Finals v Aberdeen. 3) That was the fourth penalty shootout. Celtic have won one and lost two.
- Celtic again wear the Club’s Celtic Cross logo to mark National Famine Commemoration Day.
- Hatate out after a heavy challenge in the last match v Aberdeen.
- Brendan Rodgers to hold talks over his future with major shareholder Dermot Desmond.
- Ex-Celtic manager Postecoglou’s Spurs side wins the UEFA Cup. Congrats
- Dundee sack manager Tony Doherty. Manager Michael Wimmer has left Motherwell to join Jahn Regensburg, who will play in Germany’s third tier next season.
- Marco Tilio says he will return to Celtic from Melbourne City a more mature and more complete player.
- Jota has successfully undergone surgery and is in good spirits, recovering in Portugal, after his serious knee injury.
- Ex-Celt Giakoumakis says he wants to return to Celtic, not likely.
- Ex-Celt Alex Valle in permanent move from Barcelona to Italian side Como for €6m.
- Reports: Atalanta reported to be back in looking at Engels. Guincamp head coach Sylvain Ripoll expects reported Celtic target Kalidou Sidibe to be open to a move.Celtic are tracking Moroccan forward Youssef El Kachati.
- Music: A member of Irish language hip-hop group Kneecap has been charged with a terror offence after allegedly displaying a flag in support of a proscribed organisation at a London gig.
Summary
“That’s why it’s such a great achievement when you can win all the domestic trophies. “But firstly, congratulations to Aberdeen. The game could have gone either way, so we’ve got no excuse. We didn’t do enough today, I didn’t feel. It was all a bit safe. “Our quality, our running, especially in the final third. We had a lot of the ball, but we lacked our combinations, our speed in the final third, our runs. When you play like that, and Aberdeen defend well, that made it difficult for us. “With the greatest respect, it was more ourselves. We failed to get to the level you need to get to. We’ve played against a 5-3-2 so many times this season, scored goals against it. But you have to be slick, precise, running, and not be safe. “There were too many times where we weren’t getting turned, we were setting the ball back. You need that personality. Unfortunately, that combination of not being at our level and Aberdeen being very motivated to defend, we couldn’t quite make the breakthrough.”
Brendan Rodgers
“It wasn’t complacency, no. We had a real desire and hunger to win the game. It just happens, we were very safe in our midfield. Not penetrating enough with and without the ball in those areas. “We came inside a little too often. It’s a cup final, it can happen. You have to earn it. Doesn’t matter what’s happened before in the league. You have to earn victories here at Hampden. Sadly we weren’t able to do it. “That is football, that’s sport. We’re not robots. It shows you how incredible this club, and group of players, have been – to be so consistently good. “Looking at the bigger picture, we won the league title, won the League Cup, sadly we just couldn’t go that next step. “It’s been a really good season for us. This will hurt. That’s your motivation, that drives you going into next season. “There’s no doubt that any setback you have provides that stimulus and motivation going forward. It’s a sore one today. “But we can’t have any complaints, we always look at ourselves and we didn’t do enough in the offensive side of the game.”
Brendan Rodgers
Aberdeen’s cup-winning keeper Dimitar Mitov tells BBC Scotland: “No words. Everybody doubted that we could do it, but we knew with a good game plan, following instructions, working hard, we’d get a victory.
“We were outstanding today. Sometimes, penalties go to luck. We rode our luck. We are cup champions, nobody cares how we did it.
“He [Thelin] is the best manager I’ve ever worked with. On a day-to-day basis, how he manages us, how he trains us, the little details he puts in. He always said ‘when we win the final’. There were no ‘ifs’.
“That mentality went to the boys, and we believed it. Everyone said ‘when not if’. That was the turning point today.”
Aberdeen defender Jack Milne tells BBC Scotland: “This is the best feeling I’ve had in my life. “We had the belief. All of us knew we were capable of coming here and getting this result. It’s amazing. It’s a dream come true.”
Ex-Celt & ex-Aberdeen Scott Brown: “Form goes out the window in a cup final. We’ve all been disappointed after a cup final, it’s how Celtic bounce back. Winning trebles isn’t easy. Aberdeen needed a bit of luck, but their defensive unit was really good throughout the game and the manager got the tactics spot on. It wasn’t pretty over the 120 minutes, but there’s no pictures on the cup at the end of the day.”
“I think, take away today, it’s been an amazing season up until this point. When it’s the last day and it doesn’t go your way then the whole thing feels like it’s pointless. That’s because we’ve been so good, we’ve managed to come to these moments and get through them. “It’s just a wee reminder that you have to earn it and we didn’t earn it today. We didn’t do enough in the top half of the pitch to really open them up and take our chances.”
Celtic Captain Callum McGregor
Joebloggscity of TheCelticWiki:
After what has been still an excellent season overall, it was a tough one to end the season on this anti-climax with a comprehensive defeat on penalties, albeit if were to lose to anyone then Aberdeen this season deserved it more than anyone else. An admittedly, awful match with an Aberdeen side set out to play very negatively whilst the Celtic players appeared to not even have turned up on the day, it was jokingly referrred to as the worse Cup final since Wednesday (the equally dire UEFA Cup final won by Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs). So many looked fatigued (esp Maeda), but really cynics said a few had their eye on a move anyhow this summer (something they might regret).
On the day, Celtic had the advantage although conceded late on, but really made few if any chances. Both goals were own goals, and both unfortunate for the players, with Schmeichel notably conceding the own goal in a very freak incident. However, some felt Sinisalo should have been playing.
Clearly Celtic were missing Hatate & Jota, but that’s little excuse. Various players offerred next to nothing, with left-back Taylor seen by some as having been a bigger threat than our attacking players on the day.
Aberdeen simply nullifed Celtic, played for penalties, and you could see they had practiced their penalties, as they were excellent in the challenge.
As said, it’s been a great season, and maybe Celtic needed another wake-up call to avoid complacency. Changes are expected this summer, but that should be NOT just in the squad but also across tactics, coaching & related areas. The Champions League qualifers will be soon enough on us, we can’t risk a repeat then of what occurred today.
In any case, congratulations to Aberdeen, after many great matches & victories in cup games (including finals) over the years, they deserved this moment after some great spells this season.
added note: Scottish Cup final – the jewel in the crown Cup competition & one of the oldest continuing competitions anywhere – only a podcast preview on BBC Radio SCOTLAND! This is pathetic. Even rugby which is a complete non event in Scotland, with crap crowd numbers to prove it, gets far better.
Algarve Celtic @algarveceltic.bsky.social Clearly yesterday was very disappointing for Celtic but every now and then you need a wee reminder and that was yesterday! Trebles are hard to win, way too many of our players are bang average, we need a serious injection of quality Fair play to Aberdeen
Willie Keane @williekeane.bsky.social · 14h That was hard beating. Kasper should not have played last week or this week. That’s what sponsored players does. However. Any keeper should have been fine if our strikers had done their job. Poor in every area and you lose a cup final. Not a league game.
JohnG @ticv67.bsky.social · 14h Without Reo we are bereft of any creativity or football intelligence. Engels and Bernardo are too similar to compliment or balance a midfield three and McGregor just retains possession and keeps the ball moving without creating. We watched the same dire struggle last week against St. Mirren
barncluith.bsky.social @barncluith.bsky.social · 15h A truly woeful performance all round. Reeked of complacency from the word go against a team our reserves put 5 past just over a week ago. Not fair to pick out individuals but Kuhn, Idah, Engels and Bernardo all rank rotten
Joebloggscity @joebloggscity.bsky.social · 23h Scottish Cup final – the jewel in the crown Cup competition & one of the oldest continuing competitions anywhere – only a podcast preview on BBC Radio SCOTLAND! This is pathetic. Even rugby which is a complete non event in Scotland, with crap crowd numbers to prove it, gets far better. #CelticFC
Oddbins Furuhashi @oddbinsfuruhashi.bsky.social · 22h Scottish Cup Final coverage used to start at about 10 in the morning on BBC 1. I vaguely remember one year they did a documentary on Tom and Colin McAdam – the only brothers to play against each other for Celtic and the Huns.
Teams
Celtic
Manager: Brendan Rodgers
Formation: 4 – 3 – 3
01 K. Schmeichel
03 G. Taylor
05 L. Scales
20 C. Carter-Vickers 45′, Yellow Card at 45mins
02 A. Johnston
28 Paulo Bernardo, subbed for J. Schlupp at 99mins
42 C. McGregor (c), Captain
27 A. Engels, subbed for L. McCowan at 65mins
38 D. Maeda
09 A. Idah, subbed for Yang Hyun-Jun at 66mins
Subs:
49 J. Forrest
24 J. Kenny
14 L. McCowan
56 A. Ralston
15 J. Schlupp
12 V. Sinisalo
06 A. Trusty
13 Yang Hyun-Jun 90’+3, Yellow Card at 90mins plus 3
Goals:
- A. Dorrington (39′ og) – Own Goal 39mins
Assists:
Aberdeen
Manager: Jimmy Thelin
Formation: 5 – 3 – 2
01 D. Mitov
05 M. Knoester 90’+6, Yellow Card at 90mins plus 6
22 J. Milne, subbed for K. Tobers at 94mins
26 A. Dorrington, subbed for S. Morris at 80mins
02 N. Devlin, subbed for J. MacKenzie at 91mins
28 A. Jensen
10 L. Clarkson, subbed for D. Polvara at 79mins
04 G. Shinnie (c), Captain45′, Yellow Card at 45mins
18 A. Palaversa 93′ ET, Yellow Card at 93mins extra time
09 K. Nisbet, subbed for Oday Dabbagh at 79mins
81 T. Keskinen, subbed for P. Guèye at 58mins
Subs:
30 F. Boyd
11 Oday Dabbagh
31 R. Doohan
14 P. Guèye
03 J. MacKenzie
20 S. Morris
08 D. Polvara
24 K. Tobers
Goals:
- K. Schmeichel (83′ og) – Own Goal 83mins
Assists:
Penalties:
McGregor steps up and its saved.
Shinnie scores for Aberdeen
Kenny steps up and buries it!!!
Polvara steps up and finds the net.
McCowan smashes it in – what a penalty!!!
Dabbagh scores for Aberdeen
Maeda makes no mistake – GOAL!!!
Palaversa converts
Johnston… it’s saved.
Match Officials
Referee Don Robertson
Assistant Referee 1 Ross MacLeod
Assistant Referee 2 David Dunne
Fourth Official Colin Steven
Att:
Venue:Hampden Park
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
- Prior
- Match
- Post
- MoTM
Stats
Overall possession
Aberdeen 18.5% Celtic 81.5%
Shots
Aberdeen 5 Celtic 21
Shots on target
Aberdeen 2 Celtic 3
Goalkeeper saves
Aberdeen 3 Celtic 2
Fouls
Aberdeen 12 Celtic 18
Corners
Aberdeen 4 Celtic 15
Advanced match stats
Shots
Aberdeen 5 Celtic 21
Shots on target
Aberdeen 2 Celtic 3
Shots off target
Aberdeen 2 Celtic 10
Blocked shots
Aberdeen 1 Celtic 8
Hit woodwork
Aberdeen 0 Celtic 2
Fouls
Aberdeen 12 Celtic 18
Total yellow cards
Aberdeen 3 Celtic 2
Goalkeeper saves
Aberdeen 3 Celtic 2
Diving saves
Aberdeen 1 Celtic 0
Saved shots from inside the box
Aberdeen 3 Celtic 1
Saved shots from outside the box
Aberdeen 0 Celtic 1
Goal kicks
Articles
Tearful Celtic captain Callum McGregor says penalty miss in final defeat his ‘worst moment in football’
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/latest-celtic-news/tearful-celtic-captain-callum-mcgregor-says-penalty-miss-in-final-defeat-his-worst-moment-in-football-5145622
By Ross McLeish
0Comments
Published 24th May 2025, 20:26 BST
Celtic skipper saw penalty saved as Aberdeen claim cup win
Celtic captain Callum McGregor vowed to use his “worst moment in football” as fuel to come back stronger after he broke down in tears following a Hampden penalty shoot-out defeat against Aberdeen.
Aberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov saved as McGregor took the first penalty before sealing his club’s first Scottish Cup triumph in 35 years when he denied Alistair Johnston to secure a 4-3 win.
Celtic were heading for a sixth treble in nine years following Alfie Dorrington’s own goal but Kasper Schmeichel scooped a low cross into his own net in the 83rd minute and Aberdeen held on for a 1-1 draw after extra time. McGregor had never lost a cup final and his pain was evident after missing out on a 25th winners’ medal.
Celtic’s Callum McGregor (right) after the Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Saturday May 24, 2025.
Celtic’s Callum McGregor (right) after the Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Saturday May 24, 2025. | PA
When asked how difficult a moment it was, the 31-year-old said: “The worst. The worst moment I’ve ever had in football. It’s a real sore one. I’ll just need to go away and try and get over it and come back next year and be stronger.
“We didn’t do enough in the game to deserve it and then when you get to penalties it’s a bit of a lottery. The last few times we’ve come out on the right side of it and today we didn’t. It’s a real sore way to finish the season. Up until this point it’s been an amazing season. We just didn’t do enough to cap it off.”
McGregor and his team-mates stayed behind to clap their opponents after collecting their losers’ medals.
“You have to stand and watch that,” he said. “It’s where you want to be. We’ve been lucky that we haven’t had it too many times. When you see that, it’s so raw, it’s so hurtful. So you have to use that as fuel when you come back and try and never be in that position again.
“Listen, I’ve bounced back from difficult situations before. It will take me a while to get over it but once the new season starts, that’s up to me to show everyone that you’ve got a bit of steel. We’re so used to winning that when you don’t, you feel it 10 times more.
“For sure, there’ll be learning in that, it’s just so raw at the minute. But for sure, the group can learn from it, can be better for it because sometimes you have to go through a wee bit of adversity to grow and get better.”
Celtic’s Callum McGregor (left) and manager Brendan Rodgers after the Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Saturday May 24, 2025.
Celtic’s Callum McGregor (left) and manager Brendan Rodgers after the Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Saturday May 24, 2025. | PA
Manager Brendan Rodgers consoled McGregor as the tears flowed. “He just said it can happen to anyone,” the midfielder said. “It’s obviously a personal moment but the gist of it was to ‘keep your head up and you’ve done so much for the club and had so much success for the club’. He’s obviously just to be there for you in that moment.”
McGregor added: “I think, take away today, it’s been an amazing season up until this point. When it’s the last day and it doesn’t go your way then the whole thing feels like it’s pointless. That’s because we’ve been so good, we’ve managed to come to these moments and get through them.
“It’s just a wee reminder that you have to earn it and we didn’t earn it today. We didn’t do enough in the top half of the pitch to really open them up and take our chances.”
Aberdeen’s Scottish Cup suffering is over: Thelin’s tactical masterclass, new hero and sub-gate that played part
Alan Pattullo
By Alan Pattullo
Specialist Sports Writer
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/aberdeens-scottish-cup-suffering-is-over-thelins-tactical-masterclass-new-hero-and-sub-gate-that-played-part-5145637
0Comments
Published 24th May 2025, 22:03 BST
Updated 24th May 2025, 22:28 BST
Aberdeen 1-1 Celtic (4-3 on penalties): Treble hopes crushed as Red Army finally have their day
This was history, just not the history anyone expected. Least of all those reporters who were preparing to submit reports lamenting Aberdeen’s lack of ambition as the clock ticked down towards 90 minutes.
Many Aberdeen fans too might have been despairing. But they will take this lack of ambition every year as local boy Graeme Shinnie followed in the footsteps of Alex McLeish, the last Pittodrie skipper to lift the trophy, after one of the most remarkable turnarounds in Scottish Cup final history. This was a compelling demonstration of why it is so important to still be in contention towards the latter stages, even if having contributed little in an attacking sense up to that point.
As in 1990, when they last won the trophy, penalties were kind to the Pittodrie side. Dimitar Mitov is the new hero, with the Bulgarian goalkeeper saving from Celtic skipper Callum McGregor and, decisively, from Alistair Johnston as Aberdeen rectified a terrible breach in their history. The Scottish Cup has eluded them for far too long although few imagined there might an amendment to their honours list would be required here.
Aberdeen lift the Scottish Cup after defeating Celtic.
Aberdeen lift the Scottish Cup after defeating Celtic. | SNS Group
The last time the trophy was in their possession Gazza was preparing to leave his mark on Italia 90. Few outside of Italy had heard of Toto Schillaci. Nobody in the current Aberdeen squad had even been born.
The celebrations when Johnston’s kick was saved by Mitov spoke of a great, desperate yearning. It was not unlike Hibs in 2016 although there was slightly less of the so-called exuberance that led to a broken crossbar. Some Aberdeen fans did spill onto the trackside after the unlikely equaliser that completely altered the dynamics of the afternoon when, with eight minutes of normal time left, Kasper Schmeichel inadvertently scooped substitute Shayden Morris’s cross behind him into his own net.
Aberdeen fans behind the press seats pawed the backs of journalists. Mobile phones clattered to the floor. All merry hell broke loose. And this was just the equaliser. Imagine the scenes when Mitov dived to his right to claw away Johnston’s penalty.
35 years of hurt
It wasn’t like this in 1990 because even though that victory was supremely welcome, Aberdeen had been favourites. Celtic, their opponents that afternoon as well, had finished fifth in the league. The Parkhead side had done well to take it to a shootout.
The same applied to Aberdeen here but the fact they had reached the point where it came down to five kicks made one wonder whether something was truly afoot. A Mitov save from Daizen Maeda in injury time, when the Celtic forward looked set to win the final for side, had also served as a portent.
Not long earlier Aberdeen had looked completely bereft of ideas. With 15 minutes of the regulation 90 left, manager Jimmy Thelin sent on three players and watched as four walked off.
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin and goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov.
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin and goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov. | SNS Group
It was shaping up to be that kind of afternoon. Referee Don Robertson drew attention to his unusual tactical rearrangement. Ante Palaversa was instructed to stay on – and just as well. He’d have a role to play when required to convert Aberdeen fourth penalty, which he did – high to Schmeichel’s right.
This sowed the seeds for the harvest of Celtic’s dark destiny. Johnston’s failure to score saw Brendan Rodgers’ hopes of becoming the first Celtic manager to win three trebles disappear. The Celtic fans vacated soon afterwards. This wasn’t the party anticipated.
The green and white flags they had brought to hail the treble had ended up being used to distract Aberdeen penalty takers. Football, bloody hell, as someone with skin in this game once said. It must be noted that Rodgers and his defeated players remained to clap the Aberdeen players as they made their way up the steps. They seemed to be blinking in disbelief at what they were watching.
Celtic’s brush with woodwork
Arne Engels had hit a post with a drive just after the hour mark, which would have made it 2-0 to Celtic. Substitute Jeffrey Schlupp hit the crossbar in extra time – the bar had barely stopped shaking when McGregor, at the same end, watched in horror as Mitov saved his opening kick in the shootout. The final had taken another lurch in Aberdeen’s favour.
All this after Alfie Dorrington’s shoulder had seemed set to become enshrined in Celtic folklore. The unfortunate Aberdeen defender scored an own goal eight minutes before half time. It remained the difference for longer than seemed possible given the Parkhead side’s dominance. The ball bounced off Dorrington and crept in off Mitov’s far post after Cameron Carter-Vickers flicked on a corner.
Aberdeen remained in the equation but there are no medals given out for remaining in the equation when the score finishes 1-0 to the opposition. While this might have been represented a better outcome than many Dons fans had feared, it was a long way from the glory game. It was a long way from Alex Ferguson standing on the Hampden turf and berating his players for a substandard performance after winning the trophy.
It was a day of desolation for Celtic.
It was a day of desolation for Celtic. | SNS Group
Over 20,000 Aberdeen fans had made the journey down on this latest occasion. It was a persuasive reminder to the authorities that the ticket allocations for such occasions should always be as close to 50-50 as possible. The atmosphere was leaving more of an impression than the game.
Thelin tweaked the stand free motto adopted by the Aberdeen fans and repurposed it as stand firm. He opted for five at the back and while this tactic seemed sound, it was married to the almost complete absence of attacking intent. Remarkably, Schmeichel in the Celtic goal did not have a serious touch of the ball until the 45th minute. Such lack of involvement might have explained what happened later, when he inexplicably failed to gather Morris’s cross.
Not that Aberdeen were caring. Indeed, all their troubles, all the years of striving – including seeing goalkeeper Jim Leighton carried off in 2000, watching Tom Rogic half-volley in an injury-time winner in 2017 – melted away in an instant when Mitov dived low to his right to save Johnston’s penalty. Although it was unfortunate for the Canadian full back, Aberdeen will argue they have suffered for long enough.
BBC
Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden
Aberdeen earned a sensational first Scottish Cup victory in 35 years as Dimitar Mitov’s penalty shootout saves from Callum McGregor and Alistair Johnston ensured they came from behind at Hampden to deny Celtic a treble.
Alfie Dorrington’s own goal just before half-time had Brendan Rodgers’ holders and favourites ahead and apparently in control.
But a resolute Aberdeen hung in and were rewarded after 83 minutes when substitute Shayden Morris’ teasing cross was inexplicably diverted into his own net by goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
That moment opened the door for a scarcely unimaginable outcome and Aberdeen would seize upon their big moment at the end of a rollercoaster season.
After Celtic captain McGregor had his opening penalty saved by Mitov, Aberdeen scored four fine spot-kicks before their goalkeeper plunged low to push away Johnston’s effort and ensure his place in Pittodrie legend.
It also confirms Aberdeen will have European League football throughout the autumn and gives manager Jimmy Thelin silverware in his first season in charge.
‘Aberdeen savour the most perfect game ever played’
Published
10 hours ago
Shinnie ‘could retire today and be a happy man’
Published
12 hours ago
‘This will take while to get over’ – McGregor on penalty miss
Published
10 hours ago
An autumn that featured an unlikely title tilt had lurched into a bleak winter, before a final-day defeat left Aberdeen fifth in the Scottish Premiership.
They headed into this showpiece occasion on the back of four consecutive defeats and had lost their last four meetings with Celtic 5-1, 5-1, 1-0 and 6-0.
With that in mind, Thelin set up with a back three, intent on denying Celtic space and opportunity to inflict such damage. The plan worked.
Celtic may have had the majority of the ball and territorial advantage, but they struggled to create clear chances, with Greg Taylor closest with a shot over the bar. For all their defensive solidity, Aberdeen threatened even less.
The Scottish champions usually find a way, though, and enjoyed some good fortune from a set-piece. Arne Engels’ corner evaded Cameron Carter-Vickers but flicked off Dorrington, and clipped the inside of the post before nestling in the net.
It was cruel, as Celtic had the lead still without a direct effort on target, but it felt inevitable given the constant direction of travel.
The question was whether Aberdeen would open up with nothing to lose. They tried, but to little effect other than fleeting moments.
What proved was crucial was that they stood firm and didn’t concede further. Engels came closest with a low shot that crashed off a post.
But the second goal didn’t arrive and Aberdeen capitalised, again with a stroke of fortune. Morris scampered into space on the right and flashed over a dangerous ball that Schmeichel should have dealt with.
But the veteran Dane allowed the ball to slip under him and into the net.
In injury time, it was bedlam. Daizen Maeda raced clear and looked odds-on to seal his own incredible season with a dramatic winner, but Mitov stayed big to divert.
Then Celtic substitute Jeffrey Schlupp smashed the ball against the crossbar as the game swung back and forth like a basketball match in its final seconds.
But the greatest drama was to come, and when McGregor missed the opening spot-kick, Aberdeen would not look back as they went on to earn one of the most famous wins in their history.
Media caption,
Watch all the penalties as Aberdeen win Scottish Cup
Thelin’s side stand up to critics
The Aberdeen support travelled in hope rather than anticipation. Hope of a glorious win. If not, then hope of respectability.
They more than earned the latter and then this incredible win. This is seismic for the Pittodrie club. No-one gave them a hope.
To take this all the way to penalties seemed fanciful. They stood up to their critics on the biggest stage and delivered.
A Scottish Cup win, all of a sudden, seemed within their grasp after they levelled and what a fight they put up after being roundly written off.
On the morning of the match, the club’s most successful ever manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, delivered a message to the squad, to try and raise the Aberdeen of old who came to Glasgow and conquered.
Thelin’s side initially focussed on trying not to concede. Stay in the game and frustrate and see what happens from there.
What happened will live long in those Aberdeen supporters’ memories.
Media caption,
WATCH: Schmeichel own goal draws Dons level
Celtic don’t do enough on day
This was a Celtic canter in the making, according to almost everyone.
Recent walkovers against this Aberdeen side suggested no other outcome than another trophy and another treble for Celtic.
The script was firmly ripped up and thrown in the bin.
It was anyone’s trophy in the end as the game swung back and forth after Aberdeen’s equaliser, even if Celtic still were more on the front-foot.
In truth, the Scottish champions didn’t do enough and met an Aberdeen side who gave everything to get this famous win over the line.
Captain McGregor’s incredible run of cup final wins is over. Rodgers remains tied with Jock Stein on two trebles when it seemed inevitable he’d be out on his own.
Having publicly declared his intent to remain at Celtic next season, he will surely demand backing to keep winning domestically and build on progress in Europe.
Defeat here is undoubtedly a blow. One that will irk over the summer. A reminder that in cup finals, it’s never as straightforward or easy as everyone might think.
D. Mitov
Average rating 7.47
Aberdeen
(active)
Celtic
Number: 1 D. Mitov
Average Rating: 7.47
Number: 8 D. Polvara
Average Rating: 7.15
Number: 4 G. Shinnie
Average Rating: 7.11
Number: 3 J. MacKenzie
Average Rating: 6.85
Number: 20 S. Morris
Average Rating: 6.80
Number: 22 J. Milne
Average Rating: 6.78
Number: 14 P. Guèye
Average Rating: 6.68
Number: 9 K. Nisbet
Average Rating: 6.61
Number: 5 M. Knoester
Average Rating: 6.51
Number: 18 A. Palaversa
Average Rating: 6.49
Number: 81 T. Keskinen
Average Rating: 6.47
Number: 2 N. Devlin
Average Rating: 6.45
Number: 24 K. Tobers
Average Rating: 6.31
Number: 11 Oday Dabbagh
Average Rating: 6.29
Number: 10 L. Clarkson
Average Rating: 6.25
Number: 28 A. Jensen
Average Rating: 6.21
Number: 26 A. Dorrington
Average Rating: 6.18
Aberdeen
Celtic
(active)
Number: 20 C. Carter-Vickers
Average Rating: 5.72
Number: 15 J. Schlupp
Average Rating: 5.54
Number: 3 G. Taylor
Average Rating: 5.52
Number: 38 D. Maeda
Average Rating: 5.37
Number: 42 C. McGregor
Average Rating: 5.35
Number: 49 J. Forrest
Average Rating: 5.35
Number: 24 J. Kenny
Average Rating: 5.24
Number: 1 K. Schmeichel
Average Rating: 5.21
Number: 14 L. McCowan
Average Rating: 5.11
Number: 2 A. Johnston
Average Rating: 5.11
Number: 10 N. Kühn
Average Rating: 5.09
Number: 9 A. Idah
Average Rating: 5.05
Number: 27 A. Engels
Average Rating: 5.02
Number: 5 L. Scales
Average Rating: 4.97
Number: 13 Yang Hyun-Jun
Average Rating: 4.75
Number: 28 Paulo Bernardo
Average Rating: 4.70